Overview
The scoppio del carro (explosion of the cart) is an event that has been held in Florence for over 9 centuries on Easter Sunday. But let's try to understand where this characterful event originates from and what it consists of.
The ceremony has a particular meaning, especially for the Florentines, as it calls into question historical and devotional motivations intimately connected to the identity of the city.
During the ceremony of the Holy Mass, the archbishop lights the "colombina", a rocket with the appearance of a dove, with the holy fire. This rocket lit with holy fire starts its run on wire connected to the “Brindellone” cart which is located outside the Church.
The Brindellone is a three-story triumphal chariot built during the times of the Pazzi family, which is maintained over time thanks to constant restorations. It was the Pazzi family who laid the foundations of today's ceremony, with the construction of the monumental "Chariot of Fire". With which in a symbolic manner, distributed the blessed fire to the whole city.
Once it reaches the wagon, the dove sets off the various firecrackers positioned above, and this explains the reason for the name "Scoppio del Carro" explosion of the cart. These firecrackers that create a play of light symbolically represent the spread of the Holy Fire to all the Florentine people.
Starting from the seventeenth century, the ceremony took on its current characteristics, with four prettily dressed oxen pulling the Brindellone from the Prato headquarters to the Duomo.
Free event
Free event
